At the heart of Vienna, during the OPEC Fund’s third development gathering, discussions unfolded that may significantly impact efforts against global food insecurity and educational shortcomings in lower-income nations. Dr. Muhammad Al Jasser, President of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), and Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the UN World Food Program (WFP), convened to deliberate on enhancing their institutions’ collaborative efforts.
Their dialogue centered around the Afghanistan Humanitarian Trust Fund (AHTF), a project supervised by the IsDB, and other joint initiatives aimed at nurturing human capital. Moreover, they examined avenues for further cooperation in areas including food security, nutrition, agriculture, and rural development.
In a pursuit of shared goals, another strategic dialogue took place between the IsDB president and Laura Frigenti, the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) chief executive. Their conversation focused on reinforcing educational frameworks in economically challenged countries.
The IsDB’s collaboration with the GPE has given rise to the Arab Coordination Group Smart Education Financing Initiative (ACG SmartEd), managing funds surpassing $500 million. This initiative is pivotal in upgrading educational systems in countries such as Cameroon, Nigeria, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan.
The GPE’s mission, supported by multiple partners, is to eradicate the global learning crisis by aligning efforts and resources. Their goal is to ensure that around 90 low-income countries can offer quality education, unlocking the potential of young individuals to foster a better future globally.